11IB returns to NegOr to fight insurgency

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 7, 2019): 11IB returns to NegOr to fight insurgency

The 11th Infantry “Lapu-Lapu” Battalion (11IB) of the 3rd Infantry “Spearhead” Division of the Philippine Army is expected to be redeployed to Negros Oriental starting Monday following its stint in Zamboanga City.

Pulled out from Negros Oriental two years ago to see action in Mindanao, the battalion’s return to the island is a welcome development, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said Thursday.

Earlier this year, two ranking officials of the Philippine Army paid a courtesy call on the governor and one of the topics they discussed was the return of the 11IB.

Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, the commander of the Central Command in the Visayas, proposed to Degamo to redeploy the 11IB to Negros Oriental due to recent offensives and atrocities conducted by the New People’s Army (NPA) on the island.

At present, four army battalions are deployed across Negros, three on the Occidental side (the 15IB, 62IB, and 79IB), and one, the 94IB, is based in Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental. With the addition of the 11IB, it is hoped that Negros would soon be free of insurgents.

An arrival ceremony is being prepared for the return of the 11IB at the Dumaguete pier at 8 a.m. on Monday. The headquarters of the battalion is still being discussed but it could be in Pamplona town to cover the second and third districts, according to Capt. Oliver Usog, civil-military operations officer.

With the return of 11IB, the 94IB, headed by battalion commander Lt. Col. Randy Pagunoran, will have its headquarters in Guihulngan City.

The battalion commander of the 11IB is Lt. Col. Carlo Ferrer, the former battalion commander of the 94IB, Usog said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1071778